Violence along Assam-Nagaland border

One person was killed, several others were injured and houses set ablaze at Golaghat along Assam-Nagaland border by alleged miscreants from Nagaland following which para-military forces were deployed in the area, police said today.

The violence took place when angry locals were agitating in front of 155 CRPF battalion office at Chetigaon village in Golaghat district yesterday to protest against the abduction of two boys by suspected miscreants from Nagaland.

CRPF personnel unable to control the agitators had resorted to baton charge to disperse them when the miscreants fired from across the border.

A 25-year-old youth was killed on the spot in the firing and several other agitators were injured. A total 15 houses were set ablaze as frightened residents of the border villages of Chetiagaon, Rumanbasti, Tenpur, Lachitgaon and Jadhajibasti of the district, which falls under Sector B of the Assam-Nagaland border, fled.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has asked Parliamentary Secretary Etuwa Munda and Additional DGP A P Raut to take stock of the situation.

Additional para-military forces have been rushed to the affected area as only neutral security forces like the CRPF can be deployed along the disputed inter-state border. Assam police force have also been kept on alert in case of any eventuality, state Home Commissioner G D Tripathi said.

Normal life was paralysed in Golaghat district in a 12-hour bandh called today by All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA) to protest against the killing.

Assam-Nagaland border area has been divided into six sectors in Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat and Karbi Anglong districts for administrative convenience. Tension along the inter state borders has been a long-standing concern between the two states.